K's concert was our last of the year and had a jazz theme. My favorite part was seeing how songs could be turned into jazz that you wouldn't usually hear as such.
April's pack meeting was full of surprises -- as in which awards D was awarded. This year D earned his tiger rank, wolf rank, and Nova award called Down & Dirty. I had no idea he was the first boy in his Pack to earn a Nova award! He earned 9 Tiger belt loops, 15 Wolf belt loops, camped 12 nights, hiked 23 miles, and is excited to begin being a Bear this summer. His den leader was so supportive and proud of him. I am too!
We've lived here for over a dozen years and we've never been to the Denver Botanical Gardens. To help D earn his Grow Something Wolf belt loop we gave it a whirl and were so glad we went! The girls were more than willing to take lots of pictures in front of the beautiful landscape. D only went for the tree that had bark resembling camouflage. That's a boy for you, I suppose!
D getting 100 miles! He really wanted to see his picture on the school wall and earn that medal -- now he's got it!
K had artwork picked for the district art show. She didn't think much of it and said she only did it because it was an assignment. So, when we wanted to pile the entire family in the mini van to go visit the art show she didn't want us to go.
The children were excited to attend the cardboard carnival this year until they found out I signed them up to help with their classes' games. lol. The organizers did a great job putting the class games farther apart so we didn't feel like sardines this time. D's class actually won the prize for favorite game with their Angry Bird themed one.
Thanks to some help from one of our friends, I was able to attend K's 3rd grade field trip to the Celestial Seasonings factory. I've never chaperoned before and I was so glad I could go. We met at the park by the children's school afterward and N was so happy to see her big sister there! N's friend had a big brother in 3rd grade so it worked out great to have A's mom pick up the preschoolers and play at the park while she waited for the rest of us to show up.
Thanks to some help from one of our friends, I was able to attend K's 3rd grade field trip to the Celestial Seasonings factory. I've never chaperoned before and I was so glad I could go. We met at the park by the children's school afterward and N was so happy to see her big sister there! N's friend had a big brother in 3rd grade so it worked out great to have A's mom pick up the preschoolers and play at the park while she waited for the rest of us to show up. 
Girl Scouts! We're finishing up the year and earning tons of stuff. Picking up the cookie prizes was a blast -- M was thrilled because she was the top seller in her troop again this year. She loves that stuff! Our favorite patch to earn was actually the Playing Around the World Brownie Try-It they had when I was a Brownie. Somehow my mom got ahold of a dozen patches and we told them to just put it on the back of their vest.
M began having a hard time with the noise and chaos of Girl Scouts and 1st grade. I was talking to a friend and former teacher and she recommended I read the book "The Highly Sensitive Child" by Elaine N. Aron. Yep! No wonder the girl was having a hard time adjusting to being in school all day. It wasn't just trouble adjusting, it was the stress of so much noise and busyness all day. The dean of students was sympathetic and offered to have M go to the front office for a quiet break every day. Then, towards the end of the year when she just didn't think she could take anymore, I finally got her in her classroom and there was a substitute teacher! The dean told me to just take her home and have a day off. Luckily Grandpa (who I tease that M is his clone) could come over and hang out with us and let M know someone understood exactly how she feels. Caption: the day the library book was due I took N to Chick-Fil-A for lunch so I could get it read before I turned it in. Two older gentlemen were at the table next to us and one was familiar with the book. He told me it had really helped his daughter with his grandson. It was a tender mercy as I learned and began soul searching as to what we should do to best help our middle daughter.
M was the only one willing to help me clean the church when it was our family's turn to go. Usually we ask my mom to babysit while Hubby and I go to clean. This week Grandma wasn't available and M and I spent 2 hours cleaning windows and vacuuming. I was so proud of her for sticking with it after it got hard and boring. I promised I would buy her a patch for her vest and all was forgiven but I don't think she'll volunteer again any time soon.
More news with this girl: she loves making applesauce and cupcakes. I have never seen anyone have so much patience cutting apples into little tiny bits. M is also going to the orthodontist now. We are all set up for the Healthy Start program like N but M hates it! When she was a baby the lactation consultant told us to have her tied tongue cut but since she nursed just fine the pediatrician told us not to worry about it. Well, it was time to do it now so she could wear the first device in her mouth. She was so mad about how much it hurt! I ended up taking her to school late and picking her up early. Ibuprofen was her best friend that day and she hates her device now. I should have her wear it when she has screen time like the ortho recommended to distract her but I keep forgetting! Here's to hoping life gets a little easier for this kid.
N cracked us up by following the orthodontist's instructions even when it wasn't her turn in the chair.
N cracked us up by following the orthodontist's instructions even when it wasn't her turn in the chair.
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